A place for wolves
by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
June 15, 2007
Ever wonder just what plans are in the works for wolf restoration efforts? Last year Defenders of Wildlife issued its “blueprint” for wolf restoration in the lower 48 states. Called “Places for Wolves”, the plan outlines what this national environmental group would like to see happen with wolf restoration.
The plan notes that although there are currently about 5,000 wolves in the United States, now is the time to build on that success by expanding wolf restoration into new areas. The blueprint includes a map of what Defenders has determined is potential wolf recovery areas, including southern Wyoming and much of Colorado, as well as parts of several other states.
Among its list of desired actions, Defenders calls for:
• Ongoing conservation and expansion of the existing Northern Rockies wolf populations through continued federal protection in neighboring states, including California, Colorado, Oregon and Utah.
• Restoration of viable populations of gray wolves in additional areas in the United States, including the Northeast, Pacific Northwest, southern Rockies and Southwest, through active reintroduction or facilitated natural recovery.
• Reintroduce red wolves in at least two additional locations within their historic range in the Southeast.
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